KnownCarProblems2009 Lexus ES350 Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 145 complaints with NHTSA about the 2009 Lexus ES350, most often about the air bags (70% of complaints, typically around 43,000 miles). It is 4th of 17 ES350 model years by number of complaints and has 5 recalls.
Most common 2009 Lexus ES350 problems
Air bags
101 complaints · 70%Half of these problems showed up before 43,000 miles. Parts named most often: frontal.
Recall notice sent out on may 21, 2016 stated that we "should not drive with anyone in the front passenger seat" until the fix for the recall is complete. It is now november 11, 2016 and there are no fix statements nor any hint when our vehicle (located in houston, tx) will be scheduled for a repair. Driving with the…
8 months waiting for a fix..have called twice. This last time I was hung up on...line just went dead after agent answered. Never called me back even though he had my info. They say a passenger should not ride so my husband and I are looking like "driving miss daisy" how long is this supposed to go on????
Speed control
24 complaints · 17%Half of these problems showed up before 14,000 miles. Parts named most often: accelerator pedal.
Tl contact leased a 2009 Lexus ES350. While driving approximately 35 to 40 MPH on the highway, the vehicle accelerated 80 to 90 MPH. He attempted to engage the brake pedal and the emergency brake to stop the vehicle and was unsuccessful. He also pressed the on/off button, shift the vehicle in reverse and was unable to…
When I was going to park my car in the box in front of the hotel room, I touched the accelerator slightly to advance the two meters distant to be properly parked, then the accelerator run in high speed the brakes did not respond. To reduce the impact, I turned the wheel to the right and crashed into the hotel wall.…
Electrical
5 complaints · 3%Parts named most often: starter assembly.
The contact owns a 2009 Lexus ES350. He was concerned because the push switch starter button does not allow the driver to turn the engine off in the event of an emergency. He has not had a failure with the vehicle. The failure and current mileages were 2000.
Lexus 2009, model ES350 security system goes off by itself at odd hours all windows and sunroof open by themselves at the same time on different occasions. Now toyota is replacing all computers that relate to this electrical problem. The vehicle has been at the service department over a week.
Body and structure
5 complaints · 3%Parts named most often: body.
Car was being driven into a parking spot at less than 5 MPH when it suddenly accelerated and started to climb a rock hill before it could be stopped. Wheels were turned to right as result of turn into parking spot which caused the vehicle to start tipping over. Air bags were not deployed and repairs are approximately…
I was driving on the freeway when I got rear ended with my daughter in the backseat in her car seat, and I being the driver 8 months pregnant. Car was severely damage no air bags deploy, this is not the first time this happens that the air bags do not deploy at the time of the accident. I was wearing my seat belt I…
Brakes
4 complaints · 3%Parts named most often: foundation components.
The contact owns a 2009 Lexus ES350. While the contact was attempting to brake the contact noticed that the vehicle had begun to shake and vibrate. The vehicle has not been diagnosed by the dealership and there were no prior warnings. The current and failure mileages were 2500.
Tl contact owns a 2009 Lexus ES350. When the contact attempted to apply the brakes, he noticed that the brake pedal had fallen to the floor. The vehicle was taken to the dealership where the contact had the brake booster and master cylinder seals replaced. The contact noticed previously that the vehicle had traveled…
Visibility and wipers
4 complaints · 3%Lexus 2009, model ES350 security system goes off by itself at odd hours all windows and sunroof open by themselves at the same time on different occasions. Now toyota is replacing all computers that relate to this electrical problem. The vehicle has been at the service department over a week.
Lexus 2009, model ES350. All windows and sunroof open by themselves at the same time at different occaisons. Vehicle has been brought and left at keyes Lexus in van nuys, ca. Numerous times to correct from beginning of my purchase. They failed to correct the problem to this date after promissing to do so. The danger…
Fuel system
3 complaints · 2%I too am having the same problem with the thumping noise from the trunk area. I notice when I take off from a dead stop it sounds like a thump noise right when you take off. It must be the fuel tank and I now see that others are having this same problem. This cannot be normal??>
Tl contact owns a 2009 Lexus ES350. While driving approximately 45 MPH, the contact could smell fuel inside the vehicle. The contact stated the smell was also noticeable when outside the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the technicians stated they could not diagnose the failure but also smelled the…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2009 Lexus ES350 recalls
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front driver inflator, front passenger airbag inflator, the airbag assembly, or the front passenger airbag sub-assembly and inflator. The recall began november 20, 2019. Owners may contact toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's numbers for this recall are j0a, j0b, and j0c. Lexus' numbers for this recall are jli, jlj, and jlk.
Full defect summary
Toyota motor engineering & manufacturing (toyota) is recalling certain 2010-2016 4runner, 2003-2006 tundra, 2003-2013 corolla, 2009-2010 corolla matrix, 2004-2005 rav4, 2002-2007 sequoia, 2011-2013 sienna, 2008-2012 scion xb, 2008-2009 lexus is-f, 2007-2012 yaris and lexus es350, 2010-2017 lexus gx460, 2002-2010 lexus sc430, 2006-2012 lexus is250 and is350 and 2010-2015 lexus is250c and is350c vehicles. These vehicles had their driver or passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Toyota will notify the toyota, scion and lexus owners. General motors will contact the pontiac owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, or replace the air bag assembly. The recall began on january 29, 2018. Owners may contact toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331, or pontiac customer service at 1-800-762-2737. Toyota's numbers for this recall are "zone a" toyota: g0p, lexus: glg; "zone b" toyota: g0r, lexus glh; "zone c" toyota: h0a, and lexus: hla.
Full defect summary
Toyota motor engineering & manufacturing (toyota) is recalling certain 2013 scion xb, toyota corolla, corolla matrix, sienna, 4runner, lexus is250, is350, is250c, is350c, is-f, and gx460 vehicles sold, ever registered, in the states of al, ca, fl, ga, hi, la, ms, sc, tx, pr, as, gu, the mp (saipan), and the u.s. Vi or "zone a." toyota is also recalling certain 2010 scion xb, toyota corolla, corolla matrix, yaris, 4runner, lexus is250, is350, is250c, is350c, es350, is-f, gx460, and pontiac vibe vehicles sold, ever registered, in the states of az, ar, de, dc, il, in, ks, ky, md, mo, ne, nv, nj, nm, nc, oh, ok, pa, tn, va, and wv or "zone b." toyota is also recalling certain 2009 scion xb, toyota corolla, corolla matrix, yaris, lexus is250, is350, es350, is-f, and pontiac vibe vehicles ever registered in the states of ak, co, ct, id, ia, me, ma, mi, mn, mt, nh, ny, nd, or, ri, sd, ut, vt, w
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Toyota will notify the toyota, scion and lexus owners. General motors will contact the pontiac owners. Depending on the model, dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator or the air bag assembly, free of charge. The recall began on february 1, 2017. Owners may contact toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331, or pontiac customer service at 1-800-762-2737. Toyota's numbers for final remedy for this campaign are g0p (toyota zone a), g0r (toyota zone b), h0a (toyota zone c), glg (lexus zone a), glh (lexus zone b) and hla (lexus zone c).
Full defect summary
Toyota motor engineering & manufacturing (toyota) is recalling certain 2012 toyota 4runner, corolla, corolla matrix, sienna, yaris, scion xb, lexus es350, gx460, is-f, is250, is350, is250c, is350c, and lexus lfa vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in alabama, california, florida, georgia, hawaii, louisiana, mississippi, south carolina, texas, puerto rico, american samoa, guam, the northern mariana islands (saipan), and the u.s. Virgin islands, or "zone a." additionally, unless included in "zone a" above, toyota is recalling certain 2009 toyota corolla, corolla matrix, yaris, yaris hb, scion xb, pontiac vibe, lexus, es350, is250, is350, and is-f vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in arizona, arkansas, delaware, district of columbia, illinois, indiana, kansas, kentucky, maryland, missouri, nebraska, nevada, new jersey, new mexico, north carolina, ohio, oklahoma, pennsy
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Toyota will notify the toyota and lexus owners. General motors will contact the pontiac owners. Depending on the model, dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator or the air bag assembly, free of charge. The recall began on december 6, 2016. Owners may contact toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for interim notification for this campaign are g1p (toyota zone a), g1r (toyota zone b), g2g (lexus zone a), and g2h (lexus zone b). Toyota's numbers for final remedy for this campaign are g0p (toyota zone a), g0r (toyota zone b), glg (lexus zone a), and glh (le
Full defect summary
Toyota motor engineering & manufacturing (toyota) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 scion xb and lexus is f, 2009-2011 toyota corolla and corolla matrix, 2006-2011 toyota yaris, lexus is250 and lexus is350, 2010-2011 toyota 4runner, lexus is250c, lexus is350c and lexus gx460, 2011 sienna, 2007-2011 lexus es350, and 2009-2010 pontiac vibe vehicles, originally sold, or ever registered, in alabama, california, florida, georgia, hawaii, louisiana, mississippi, south carolina, texas, puerto rico, american samoa, guam, the northern mariana islands (saipan), and the u.s. Virgin islands, or "zone a." additionally, unless included in "zone a" above, toyota is recalling certain model year 2008 scion xb and lexus is f, 2007-2008 toyota yaris, 2006-2008 lexus is250 and lexus is350 and 2007-2008 lexus es350 vehicles, originally sold, or ever registered, in arizona, arkansas, delaware, distric
Speed control: accelerator pedal
Risk: A stuck open accelerator pedal may result in very high vehicle speeds and make it difficult to stop the vehicle, which could cause a crash, serious injury or death.
Fix: Toyota filed an amended defect report on november 25, 2009, stating that dealers will modify the accelerator pedal and, on certain vehicles, alter the shape of the floor surface under the pedal. These changes address the risk of pedal entrapment due to interference with the floor mat. Redesigned accelerator pedals will become available beginning in april 2010 and dealers will replace any modified pedal with the new pedal if desired. Also, dealers will replace any genuine toyota or lexus all-weather floor mats with redesigned all-weather mats, or repurchase the previous mats from owners who do
Full defect summary
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2004-2010 passenger vehicles. The accelerator pedal can get stuck in the wide open position due to its being trapped by an unsecured or incompatible driver's floor mat.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Desiccated air bag inflator rupture
Summary
From 2000 through 2017, takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("psan") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004l. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 blomquist report at www.NHTSA.gov/sites/NHTSA.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substa
Low-speed surging
Summary
The agency received a petition on june 19, 2015, requesting an investigation into low-speed surging in different models of toyota automobiles in which the car starts accelerating and the engine RPM increases even when the accelerator pedal is not depressed.the petition is based upon the petitioner's interpretation of pre-crash event data recorder (edr) data from a crash his wife experienced in a model year (my) 2009 lexus es350 vehicle and from two other crashes involving a my 2010 toyota corolla and a my 2009 toyota camry.the petitioner's allegations regarding the three crashes are based upon several misconceptions about the manner in which the edr samples and records pre-crash data in the
Questions about the 2009 Lexus ES350
- What are the most common problems with the 2009 Lexus ES350?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: air bags (101 complaints, typically around 43,000 miles); speed control (24 complaints, typically around 14,000 miles); electrical (5 complaints).
- How many recalls does the 2009 Lexus ES350 have?
- 5 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from October 17, 2019 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2009 a bad year for the Lexus ES350?
- It is 4th of 17 ES350 model years by number of complaints, with 145 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.